Last month I finished reading Tom Sine's "The New Conspirators". Toward the end of the book there is a chapter about the challenges to each of the "wealth classes" in the world. I don't personally know any of the world's "super-wealthy" (although after last week I am sure there are fewer of them), and I am not sure I really know anyone with even moderate wealth. I was very interested in what he said about the middle class, the lower class, and the world's poor.
The section on the middle class identified debt as a hindrance to being part of the Kingdom Conspiracy and suggested that the church needs to look at a plan to help the middle class quickly shed their debt and expand their ability to help the poor.
Our small body of Jesus had already had an initial conversation about debt reduction so we had a second discussion and several families have banded together to rid ourselves of debt. In less than 3 years we will only have house payments and in approximately 8 years all of us will have our homes completely paid for.
Monday, October 13, 2008
Friday, September 26, 2008
Beauty
Last week a friend invited me to a football game. I was part of a small crowd at this stadium (there were only 65,000 of us instead of the normal 80,000+). I love football, and I love hanging out with my friend, but this event turned spectacular when I didn't expect it.
First the invocation was done in Hebrew by a local Rabbi. It was a blessing on the children of the world and it got to my heart. I thought about how much money was represented by the tickets, the refreshments, the appropriate colored clothing and all the other expenditures. Then I thought about multiplying that times all the college and professional stadiums hosting games that day and wondered what would happen in NCAA and the NFL really decided to bless the children of the world and donate a small portion of the hundreds of millions of dollars being spent last weekend. (I am not asking anyone to give up football. I love football and as much as I enjoy Christian writers trying to take back manhood, I reject their notion that everything will be alright if we get rid of football and just send all the men and boys into the wilderness for a weekend).
That was only the first part of the unexpected blessing. The football in the first half was mediocre at best (I enjoyed being at the game with someone who has an outstanding understanding of the depth of strategy in the game). The half time started with the home team (our team) having a band play with three people competing in a vocal competition. The concept of a marching band playing for pop vocals seemed like a shaky idea to begin with and from my seat in the stands the execution of the idea was worse than the idea itself.
Things changed radically when a second band took the field. It was the "Marching 101", the marching band from South Carolina State University. If you have never seen them perform you have missed something of beauty.
The following link is a home made video with poor sound quality but gives you a small taste of what I was able to experience.
http://showbandcentral.vidiac.com/category/Non-HBCUs/0/5db8d792-804a-4542-9de9-99ae000d852e.htm
This week the value of music has reverberated through my soul.
First the invocation was done in Hebrew by a local Rabbi. It was a blessing on the children of the world and it got to my heart. I thought about how much money was represented by the tickets, the refreshments, the appropriate colored clothing and all the other expenditures. Then I thought about multiplying that times all the college and professional stadiums hosting games that day and wondered what would happen in NCAA and the NFL really decided to bless the children of the world and donate a small portion of the hundreds of millions of dollars being spent last weekend. (I am not asking anyone to give up football. I love football and as much as I enjoy Christian writers trying to take back manhood, I reject their notion that everything will be alright if we get rid of football and just send all the men and boys into the wilderness for a weekend).
That was only the first part of the unexpected blessing. The football in the first half was mediocre at best (I enjoyed being at the game with someone who has an outstanding understanding of the depth of strategy in the game). The half time started with the home team (our team) having a band play with three people competing in a vocal competition. The concept of a marching band playing for pop vocals seemed like a shaky idea to begin with and from my seat in the stands the execution of the idea was worse than the idea itself.
Things changed radically when a second band took the field. It was the "Marching 101", the marching band from South Carolina State University. If you have never seen them perform you have missed something of beauty.
The following link is a home made video with poor sound quality but gives you a small taste of what I was able to experience.
http://showbandcentral.vidiac.com/category/Non-HBCUs/0/5db8d792-804a-4542-9de9-99ae000d852e.htm
This week the value of music has reverberated through my soul.
Wednesday, July 16, 2008
The Shack
I have been reading a book aloud to my family. The book is "The Shack" by William P Young. It is the best novel I have ever read. Even if you never read novels, I would recommend that you read this book.
I don't want to ruin the book but I want to give you a couple of hints.
1. The main character has a tragic event that radically changes his life.
2. Eventually it leads to an encounter with God.
This book may rock your stereotypes and challenge your theology. It is well worth the risk.
For more information check out the Missy Project at www.theshackbook.com
I don't want to ruin the book but I want to give you a couple of hints.
1. The main character has a tragic event that radically changes his life.
2. Eventually it leads to an encounter with God.
This book may rock your stereotypes and challenge your theology. It is well worth the risk.
For more information check out the Missy Project at www.theshackbook.com
Thursday, June 12, 2008
What is Normal
My kids have been joking the last several weeks about being normal. One of their favorites is the old line from Ann Landers "Normal is a setting on your dryer".
During a road trip earlier this week I had some extended time to think. I was thinking about normallity when we stopped at a rest stop for a bathroom break. My youngest daughter who has many special needs has an unusual fear of toilets. Everytime she has to use a toilet in a new place she has several questions; "Is it a clean toilet?, Is is a noisy toilet?, Is it a scary toilet (does it flush automatically)?" There have been times that she needs to go so bad that she can barely make it into the bathroom, but then she stops at the door and starts screaming that she can't go in its too scary.
I was sitting on a bench waiting for my wife and thinking about my daughter's fears. I was contemplating some of the things about my daughter that cause me to fear. (Will she be able to function in the world with this fear of toilets? Will she find a place in our culture? Will she be taken advantage of because of her openness to people?) I tried to turn my fears over to God and they kept raising their head.
Then God gave me this to think about:
My daughter is not "normal" because of her strange fear of toilets and also because of her complete lack of fear of strangers. The truth is that my daughter is closer to what God made all of us to be. Adam and Eve would have jumped to hear the sound of an automatic flushing toilet. They would have been disgusted by the sounds and smells in our highway restrooms. If God had put another human being in the garden of Eden with them it would have never occured to them to be afraid. They would have known that it was safe to be in relationship with God's creation.
Now I know that as a loving father I must guard my daughter from some people, who because of sin and ugliness in the world can not be trusted to honor the beauty of my daughter.
However, I long for the day that God's kingdom is redeemed completely and we no longer hide from each other and fear each other. I am know that for me the first steps to bringing the kingdom is being willing to take risks to be hurt myself. I must love and trust other beings knowing that some of them will abuse my love and trust. That is one way to get back to the what God intended where our biggest fears are about strange sounds and things that don't fit not the people who are brothers and sisters.
During a road trip earlier this week I had some extended time to think. I was thinking about normallity when we stopped at a rest stop for a bathroom break. My youngest daughter who has many special needs has an unusual fear of toilets. Everytime she has to use a toilet in a new place she has several questions; "Is it a clean toilet?, Is is a noisy toilet?, Is it a scary toilet (does it flush automatically)?" There have been times that she needs to go so bad that she can barely make it into the bathroom, but then she stops at the door and starts screaming that she can't go in its too scary.
I was sitting on a bench waiting for my wife and thinking about my daughter's fears. I was contemplating some of the things about my daughter that cause me to fear. (Will she be able to function in the world with this fear of toilets? Will she find a place in our culture? Will she be taken advantage of because of her openness to people?) I tried to turn my fears over to God and they kept raising their head.
Then God gave me this to think about:
My daughter is not "normal" because of her strange fear of toilets and also because of her complete lack of fear of strangers. The truth is that my daughter is closer to what God made all of us to be. Adam and Eve would have jumped to hear the sound of an automatic flushing toilet. They would have been disgusted by the sounds and smells in our highway restrooms. If God had put another human being in the garden of Eden with them it would have never occured to them to be afraid. They would have known that it was safe to be in relationship with God's creation.
Now I know that as a loving father I must guard my daughter from some people, who because of sin and ugliness in the world can not be trusted to honor the beauty of my daughter.
However, I long for the day that God's kingdom is redeemed completely and we no longer hide from each other and fear each other. I am know that for me the first steps to bringing the kingdom is being willing to take risks to be hurt myself. I must love and trust other beings knowing that some of them will abuse my love and trust. That is one way to get back to the what God intended where our biggest fears are about strange sounds and things that don't fit not the people who are brothers and sisters.
Thursday, May 29, 2008
A Wake Up Call About My Past
I have been reading an excellent book. "Jesus for President" by Shane Claiborne and Chris Haw.
The book is a look at how the world perceived Jesus when he arrived on the scene 2000years ago. The authors start with a look at the Old Testament and what the Hebrew people would have known and expected from Messiah.
The part that most impacted me is the section dealing with the Roman Empire and the vocabulary that Jesus borrowed that would have had significant impact on his audience both Jewish and Roman.
In the section when they start talking about application to our culture I was intrigued and interested, but was shocked last night reading the third section.
In the book they tell the story of a young man, Logan, who went to Fort Benning to be trained as an infantry soldier. In 1990 I went to Fort Benning and I completed the training and "turned blue" (pinned on my infantry rifles).
Logan tells that the day he was handed his rifle he realized he could not carry the rifle and honor Jesus. So he went through the process of being humiliated and discharged from the Army.
My story was different. I had graduated from Bible College and started seminary. The day our unit was handed our rifles someone in my platoon asked me, "how do I know I can trust you when we go into battle"? I turned and looked him in the eye and said, "I have thought long and hard about this and believe me you can trust me in battle more than you can trust anyone else in this unit".
I have told and re-told that story in the last 18 years. I told it with pride to demonstrate my maturity and dedication to my nation.
Last night, I felt like I imagine Peter felt when he told Jesus, "Get away from me, I am a sinful man".
How was it that I had studied the Bible and had a degree to prove it and missed the point? Never in my diligent thinking about killing the enemy, had it crossed my mind what a paradox it was for a man of God to be killing the enemy that Jesus said to love?
I had sworn allegiance to a flag and a symbol that asked and demanded of me that I take the life of someone who God loved. They asked me to be willing to destroy and desecrate the image of God in another man, because the man was from another nation that had a dispute with my nation.
I have many friends who continue to wear their uniforms and serve their country in different branches of the military. I love them and pray for them. I could never do it again. I wish I could go back to that day in Columbus GA and tell those young men around me, "You are right, as a follower of Jesus I will never be able to do the job of an infantry soldier"!
The book is a look at how the world perceived Jesus when he arrived on the scene 2000years ago. The authors start with a look at the Old Testament and what the Hebrew people would have known and expected from Messiah.
The part that most impacted me is the section dealing with the Roman Empire and the vocabulary that Jesus borrowed that would have had significant impact on his audience both Jewish and Roman.
In the section when they start talking about application to our culture I was intrigued and interested, but was shocked last night reading the third section.
In the book they tell the story of a young man, Logan, who went to Fort Benning to be trained as an infantry soldier. In 1990 I went to Fort Benning and I completed the training and "turned blue" (pinned on my infantry rifles).
Logan tells that the day he was handed his rifle he realized he could not carry the rifle and honor Jesus. So he went through the process of being humiliated and discharged from the Army.
My story was different. I had graduated from Bible College and started seminary. The day our unit was handed our rifles someone in my platoon asked me, "how do I know I can trust you when we go into battle"? I turned and looked him in the eye and said, "I have thought long and hard about this and believe me you can trust me in battle more than you can trust anyone else in this unit".
I have told and re-told that story in the last 18 years. I told it with pride to demonstrate my maturity and dedication to my nation.
Last night, I felt like I imagine Peter felt when he told Jesus, "Get away from me, I am a sinful man".
How was it that I had studied the Bible and had a degree to prove it and missed the point? Never in my diligent thinking about killing the enemy, had it crossed my mind what a paradox it was for a man of God to be killing the enemy that Jesus said to love?
I had sworn allegiance to a flag and a symbol that asked and demanded of me that I take the life of someone who God loved. They asked me to be willing to destroy and desecrate the image of God in another man, because the man was from another nation that had a dispute with my nation.
I have many friends who continue to wear their uniforms and serve their country in different branches of the military. I love them and pray for them. I could never do it again. I wish I could go back to that day in Columbus GA and tell those young men around me, "You are right, as a follower of Jesus I will never be able to do the job of an infantry soldier"!
Tuesday, March 25, 2008
Violence Against Women
My daughters were commenting to me that they find it strange and wrong that in the State of South Carolina it is a felony to fight chickens, but only a misdemeanor to beat your wife.
{My daughters are passionately opposed to fighting chickens. In fact our family is wrestling with the violence against animals and how Jesus would respond to the slaughterhouses and even the farms that systematically abuse and torture the animals they should be caring for.}
It is good that athletes are called into account for abusing and killing animals. I pray that the result will be a drop in cruelty to animals throughout society.
Today I heard that one sports team had two of its athletes punch their wife/girlfriend. Unless the woman presses charges, nothing will happen. Unfortunately at times even if the woman presses charges, the man will hire an attorney and use everything that should be sacred to clear his name.
I can not explain to my daughters how this can be right and good. They genuinely feel that society cares less about them then it does about dogs or chickens. Or that violence in relationships is so frequent that it is not considered deviant.
(I did take time to talk with my daughters about the importance of guarding themselves against relationships with men who have a bent toward violence.)
I want to do something that moves our society to a place where we say that punching a woman is wrong - period. Under all of this is probably still some thinking, ideas, and feelings that have to change.
{My daughters are passionately opposed to fighting chickens. In fact our family is wrestling with the violence against animals and how Jesus would respond to the slaughterhouses and even the farms that systematically abuse and torture the animals they should be caring for.}
It is good that athletes are called into account for abusing and killing animals. I pray that the result will be a drop in cruelty to animals throughout society.
Today I heard that one sports team had two of its athletes punch their wife/girlfriend. Unless the woman presses charges, nothing will happen. Unfortunately at times even if the woman presses charges, the man will hire an attorney and use everything that should be sacred to clear his name.
I can not explain to my daughters how this can be right and good. They genuinely feel that society cares less about them then it does about dogs or chickens. Or that violence in relationships is so frequent that it is not considered deviant.
(I did take time to talk with my daughters about the importance of guarding themselves against relationships with men who have a bent toward violence.)
I want to do something that moves our society to a place where we say that punching a woman is wrong - period. Under all of this is probably still some thinking, ideas, and feelings that have to change.
Tuesday, January 29, 2008
Christians & Politics Article from November 06
I have spent time in the far right side of Christianity with gun-toting, King James carrying, Republican voting, love the military fundamentalists. In fact, I grew up in that and for most of my early life, did not think that you could vote Democrat and be allowed into heaven. In fact, I guess we somehow thought that when we were washed by the blood of Jesus some political red remained on those who were truly regenerate. I think it got worse during my growing up years with the national figures encouraging the church to take control of the political arena and effect change using candidates, campaigns, and every means possible to impact legislation for the cause of the kingdom.
Over the last several years I have begun a journey with God that took me some distance from that hard core Christianity to studying the life of Jesus. His life seems considerably disconnected from the life of the Christians that I have rubbed shoulders with and, more specifically, my life that is more like a frolic in the mud. His life that he offered seems like a wish as likely to be filled as a day in the candy store for my 5 year-old. I began to pursue living the teachings of Jesus and realized that, along with a mountain of attitudes and heart changes, my political views and strong emotions did not match the Jesus I wanted to follow.
I began to follow with interest the Christian authors and speakers who offered another view. I read Donald Miller’s books and enjoyed his view that Christianity includes Democrats, not just the right wing of the Republican Party.
I attended a church in Minneapolis with a pastor that was leading the church away from identifying Christians through their politics and refusing to allow the church to become a political machine. I was moved by the prayers for terrorists who need the love of Jesus as much as my neighbors. I relish the idea of being in a church that doesn’t literally or figuratively check voter registrations before allowing you to become a member.
I read McClaren who shared a view of Kingdom living that is more than individualistic. He emphasized that the true call of Jesus’ teaching is that, as families, churches, and a nation, we should turn the other cheek and overcome evil with good.
I was thrilled with a bigger view of the kingdom. I reveled in the joy of being a part of something bigger than I had ever imagined. Some things have begun to bother me.
I do believe that Jesus calls us to pray for our enemies, but the Bible also says that the role of government is to protect its citizens through the use of the sword (Romans 13). I have seen the hatred that soldiers have toward ethnic groups because of the vile nature of war. I hate war and I hate what it does to my friends who serve their country. I hate the broken bodies and minds of those injured and of their families. I hate the poison that is spread with the true spiritual enemy convincing us that the enemy we should hate is someone of a different race or religion.
So is it possible to wage war serving our nation and do it without hatred and animosity for the people on the other side? Can someone wearing the uniform of the US Armed Forces live a beautiful kingdom life? Can they, in the midst of the worst ugliness, bring beauty and the light of love and perhaps even bring Jesus right into the horrible situation? How do moderate and left-leaning evangelicals approach war, our soldiers and our Commander in Chief?
What I hear from some of the moderate or left-leaning evangelical Christians, is an attitude of disgust and hatred for the President. If he has deceived us, and if his motives have not been pure, and if you consider him worse than the terrorist, what kind of response should you show him? If Jesus calls us to pray for the terrorist, he also calls us to pray for those in positions of authority. If the kingdom is to be implemented in a corporate sense, then it can not be done selectively. We can not choose to show the love of Jesus to those who are training for terrorism and then withhold love from the President or Republicans.
It is so hard to live out the kingdom life. Some of you pray daily for the president and our troops. Some of you pray daily for the terrorist leaders that God would bring grace and salvation to their homes.
Perhaps we need to share the load equally. Those of us leaning to the left need to pray for Republicans and Democrats and leaders we believe are dishonest. Those of us leaning to the right need to pray for terrorists. Finding the passion and compassion to love justice and its application is a start in the right direction, but being unilateral in our dispensing of compassion is not our right or responsibility.
We will not share the kingdom life with terrorists by bombing and killing enough of them that they embrace our offer of God’s grace.
We will not share the kingdom life with right-leaning Christians by spewing vitriol at the leaders of the Republican Party.
Matthew 5:13-16 (MSG) “Let me tell you why you are here. You’re here to be salt-seasoning that brings out the God-flavors of this earth. If you lose your saltiness, how will people taste godliness? You’ve lost your usefulness and will end up in the garbage.
Here’s another way to put it: You’re here to be light, bringing out the God-colors in the world. God is not a secret to be kept. We’re going public with this, as public as a city on a hill. If I make you light-bearers, you don’t think I’m going to hide you under a bucket, do you? I’m putting you on a light stand. Now that I’ve put you there on a hilltop, on a light stand – shine! Keep open house; be generous with your lives. By opening up to others, you’ll prompt people to open up with God, this generous Father in heaven.”
We are here to reveal the beauty of God on earth and in the lives of other people. I know for me that there is a temptation to decide who is worthy of receiving the beauty of God, or maybe even I decide who has any beauty in their life. I am being pushed by God into that uncomfortable place of getting rid of my system of evaluating people. I realized that moving from the religious right to the moderate evangelical just gave me a different list of people that I disdained and had a difficult time praying for.
Matthew 5:21-26 (MSG) “You’re familiar with the command to the ancients, ‘Do not murder.’ I’m telling you that anyone who is as much as angry with a brother or sister is guilty of murder. Carelessly call a brother ‘idiot!’ and you just might find yourself hauled into court. Thoughtlessly yell ‘stupid!’ at a sister and you are on the brink of hellfire. The simple moral fact is that words kill.
This is how I want you to conduct yourself in these matters. If you enter your place of worship and, about to make an offering, you suddenly remember a grudge a friend has against you, abandon your offering, leave immediately, go to this friend and make things right. Then and only then, come back and work things out with God.
Or say you’re out on the street and an old enemy accosts you. Don’t lose a minute. Make the first move; make things right with him. After all, if you leave the first move to him, knowing his track record, you’re likely to end up in court, maybe even jail. If that happens, you won’t get out without a stiff fine.”
I don’t think that God is so much concerned about exactly what derogatory words I used to describe the terrorist or political leaders that I don’t like, or my boss, or the guy driving next to me on the highway. God wants us to see human life as invaluable, because human life is in the image of God. When I begin to see the people around me as incredibly valuable because they were created by God and they bear his reflection, I won’t keep people off of the list because of what they have done.
As I am writing this in November of 2006, the US is days away from an election and still fighting wars in two locations with threats from at least 2 other nations. The emotions and passions are running high and both sides feel so much is at stake. Both sides are right—so much is at stake.
This is a battle of good and evil and in the spiritual conflict, the only way we can lose is by destroying/decimating the enemy. We can not win with mental conquest and verbal humiliation. The victory will come when the love of God moves us to see every person around us the way God sees them—immensely valuable and incredibly beautiful. I know that when I can look at the terrorist and George Bush and John Kerry and Kim Jong II with the eyes of Jesus, then I have found the life that I have been looking for.
Friday, January 25, 2008
Hearing From God
Last year I wrote a book about hearing God's voice. I am learning to practice listening to God (John 10) but still find that it is a discipline.
The last several weeks I have really been enjoying conversations with the people I love the most about this topic. There is a consensus that we don't have all the answers and we are all still learning. The one thing that has been the focus is how do we share with those who have not experienced hearing God's voice.
I am not talking about atheist or pagans (I find it easy to talk to them about my experience with God), but Christians who have never heard from God.
The Christians I am refering to, all talk about their relationship as something very personal, but they have never had a conversation with God. Sure, they have all spent lots of time praying and reading the Bible.
I have had a couple of authors that I really enjoyed that I read every book they had written and then I sent them a letter or two. I do not consider that to be a personal relationship.
I can't believe that Jesus prayer in John 17 leaves us in a place where a distant God leaves us generic instructions for 2000 years of generations in all different cultures and then from a distance grants the boons of his faithful followers.
Jesus said in John 17 that his followers have the same relationship with the Father that he (Jesus) has with the Father. I don't think Jesus had one way conversations with his father.
My point here was not to make the case for hearing God's voice (I got started and couldn't stop myself), but rather to think about how to introduce this topic to Christians who don't believe that God can/will talk to individuals. I don't think it is a matter of only those with "enough faith" get to hear God. It does seem to me more a matter of taking time to listen to God than having enough faith.
Having had the chance to spend some of my days walking with God and listening for/to his voice, I want everyone I know to experience that. How can I invite you if you don't believe it?
The last several weeks I have really been enjoying conversations with the people I love the most about this topic. There is a consensus that we don't have all the answers and we are all still learning. The one thing that has been the focus is how do we share with those who have not experienced hearing God's voice.
I am not talking about atheist or pagans (I find it easy to talk to them about my experience with God), but Christians who have never heard from God.
The Christians I am refering to, all talk about their relationship as something very personal, but they have never had a conversation with God. Sure, they have all spent lots of time praying and reading the Bible.
I have had a couple of authors that I really enjoyed that I read every book they had written and then I sent them a letter or two. I do not consider that to be a personal relationship.
I can't believe that Jesus prayer in John 17 leaves us in a place where a distant God leaves us generic instructions for 2000 years of generations in all different cultures and then from a distance grants the boons of his faithful followers.
Jesus said in John 17 that his followers have the same relationship with the Father that he (Jesus) has with the Father. I don't think Jesus had one way conversations with his father.
My point here was not to make the case for hearing God's voice (I got started and couldn't stop myself), but rather to think about how to introduce this topic to Christians who don't believe that God can/will talk to individuals. I don't think it is a matter of only those with "enough faith" get to hear God. It does seem to me more a matter of taking time to listen to God than having enough faith.
Having had the chance to spend some of my days walking with God and listening for/to his voice, I want everyone I know to experience that. How can I invite you if you don't believe it?
Thursday, January 24, 2008
Living with God as the King of your Dome
A methodist church has been encouraging their members to give up spending for Lent. They asked the members to print out the card above and tape it to their credit/debit cards.
I think this is an excellent way for us to begin to give God control of our lives. If we let God have control of our finances there are several benefits. (I know none of this is new and maybe it doesn't help anyone else, but for me this is an area where I need constant reminders.)
First we will probably spend a lot less money on the things we are being pushed to buy through all the marketing around us. If we can break free from being consumers it will free us from a bondage that has a huge impact on our souls.
Second, if we are living first to allow God to control our monies, we will have to walk away from competing with anyone over the accumulation of wealth. We will no longer have to worry about how we rate compared to someone else.
Third, it will help us avoid other conflicts. In our marriages and extended family life, money issues are the most frequent catalysts for disagreements, arguments and fights. If we can give God control of our money it would seem obvious that we would have significant reduction in conflict with the people in our lives.
Fourth. God will surely have us more concerned with issues of poverty and need and we will begin to see the world through his eyes and use our resources in a way that is consistent with The Lords Prayer - "Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven".
Maybe starting with the Lenten season as a trial is a good test to see if we are ready to give God our credit/debit cards.
Sunday, January 20, 2008
The Fire
By Shari Virtue
Histories, contracts, mistakes, items purchased,
Debts, time wasted, theologies, old dreams,
Diversions, divisions, distractions, disasters,
Heat, ashes, cleansing, sleet,
Quiet, peace, forgiveness,
New beginnings, renewed vision,
Hurts relinquished, systems destroyed,
Paper trails dead-ended,
Heat, ashes, cleansing, sleet,
Quiet, peace, forgiveness,
New paths
Histories, contracts, mistakes, items purchased,
Debts, time wasted, theologies, old dreams,
Diversions, divisions, distractions, disasters,
Heat, ashes, cleansing, sleet,
Quiet, peace, forgiveness,
New beginnings, renewed vision,
Hurts relinquished, systems destroyed,
Paper trails dead-ended,
Heat, ashes, cleansing, sleet,
Quiet, peace, forgiveness,
New paths
Eat my flesh and drink my blood
Our family has been reading through the gospel of John and over the last couple of nights we read John 6. I have been meditating on John 6:43-71 and I do not feel content with the spiritualizing of the passage that I have always used to interpret it.
I do believe that there is a spiritual element to what Jesus said, but....
Why did he make such a big deal about it being his flesh and blood? Clearly some people quit following him because there was no doubt that he was teaching some really disturbing stuff.
How does it tie into the communion formulary used in the other 3 gospels and restated by Paul in 1 Corinthians?
Was it just a test to weed out the non-serious people? How many people do you know that would continue following Jesus if he told them that it involved cannibalism? (I think my daugther Hope said it best, everytime we talked about eating flesh and drinking blood, she said "Thats disgusting, I hate blood".)
We did some research on transubstantiation and consubstantiation. Clearly there is a problem with needing a priest to turn the elements into the body of Christ, but I am intrigued with some of the other parts of these two views.
I do believe that there is a spiritual element to what Jesus said, but....
Why did he make such a big deal about it being his flesh and blood? Clearly some people quit following him because there was no doubt that he was teaching some really disturbing stuff.
How does it tie into the communion formulary used in the other 3 gospels and restated by Paul in 1 Corinthians?
Was it just a test to weed out the non-serious people? How many people do you know that would continue following Jesus if he told them that it involved cannibalism? (I think my daugther Hope said it best, everytime we talked about eating flesh and drinking blood, she said "Thats disgusting, I hate blood".)
We did some research on transubstantiation and consubstantiation. Clearly there is a problem with needing a priest to turn the elements into the body of Christ, but I am intrigued with some of the other parts of these two views.
Saturday, January 12, 2008
HOW BIBLICAL IS PREACHING?
http://www.carey.ac.nz/pauls_blog/ProblemWithPreaching.pdf
I am sure alot of people do not agree with this article by David Allis. I have not had time to think thoroughly about what he wrote.
I do agree that from what I have seen (I have been in over 500 evangelical churches in the US and a handful in Europe), the vast majority of preaching is done TO an audience of Christians who have a negligble change in their life after sitting through hundreds of preaching events.
My personal experience is that I am much more likely to respond to God when I am in conversation with other Christians, than from hearing a lecture from the pulpit. (There have been times when a preaching lecture really did impact my life). I have also seen that there seems to be more impact from my time spent talking with people as compared to my preaching.
I am sure alot of people do not agree with this article by David Allis. I have not had time to think thoroughly about what he wrote.
I do agree that from what I have seen (I have been in over 500 evangelical churches in the US and a handful in Europe), the vast majority of preaching is done TO an audience of Christians who have a negligble change in their life after sitting through hundreds of preaching events.
My personal experience is that I am much more likely to respond to God when I am in conversation with other Christians, than from hearing a lecture from the pulpit. (There have been times when a preaching lecture really did impact my life). I have also seen that there seems to be more impact from my time spent talking with people as compared to my preaching.
Friday, January 11, 2008
Politics
I don't have any original thoughts about politics, but I am starting to find a place that I think is compatible with my relationship with God and my place in this earth.
Jesus asked those who wanted to be his disciples to adapt a radical way of living life (ie turn the other cheek, go the extra mile, love the poor). I am working on making those an integral part of my world view.
Living it personally for me was seperated from a corporate or national application. I guess it was part of the way that I was educated, and my lily white heritage that caused me to view Christianity as a completely individualistic decision. In fact there was very little value for identity other than an extreme form of nationalism
The way I was taught the meaning of the book of Galatians was that there is only one way to be a true child of Abraham and that was through a individual decision to accept Jesus as Savior. There is no more corporate salvation. I am not sure I was taught anything beyond that, but the extension I made was that following the teaching of Jesus (Matthew 5-7) is an invitation to individuals.
I am quite sure that if Jesus were to give us application of his teaching to our current situation, he would tell us that as churches, cities, states, and a country, there is blessing available to following his teaching (ie turn the other cheek - even if it involve terrorists) as a group.
I am not proposing that followers of Jesus should seek politcal office so that they can lead the country in some kind of Christian ceremony, or nationalize discipleship. Rather, we should be modeling the right behavior by the way we talk about terrorists, and other people who we have decided are evil.
The reason I am thinking about this now is due to my struggle to decide who I will vote for (or even if I will vote). I am trying to find a way to take the teachings of Jesus and apply it to choosing someone to lead our country in the best way. I have heard a whole lot of rhetoric from both the left and the right the republicans and democrats, but very little substance.
I am not sure that any of the 10 republicans or 10 democrats would make an iota of difference if they were elected president. I wish someone who would offer a real change. Not a National Pastor, but someone who would be thoughtful in executing his office in a way that would be less offensive to the world and cause less offense to the world who sees us as a Christian Nation.
Jesus asked those who wanted to be his disciples to adapt a radical way of living life (ie turn the other cheek, go the extra mile, love the poor). I am working on making those an integral part of my world view.
Living it personally for me was seperated from a corporate or national application. I guess it was part of the way that I was educated, and my lily white heritage that caused me to view Christianity as a completely individualistic decision. In fact there was very little value for identity other than an extreme form of nationalism
The way I was taught the meaning of the book of Galatians was that there is only one way to be a true child of Abraham and that was through a individual decision to accept Jesus as Savior. There is no more corporate salvation. I am not sure I was taught anything beyond that, but the extension I made was that following the teaching of Jesus (Matthew 5-7) is an invitation to individuals.
I am quite sure that if Jesus were to give us application of his teaching to our current situation, he would tell us that as churches, cities, states, and a country, there is blessing available to following his teaching (ie turn the other cheek - even if it involve terrorists) as a group.
I am not proposing that followers of Jesus should seek politcal office so that they can lead the country in some kind of Christian ceremony, or nationalize discipleship. Rather, we should be modeling the right behavior by the way we talk about terrorists, and other people who we have decided are evil.
The reason I am thinking about this now is due to my struggle to decide who I will vote for (or even if I will vote). I am trying to find a way to take the teachings of Jesus and apply it to choosing someone to lead our country in the best way. I have heard a whole lot of rhetoric from both the left and the right the republicans and democrats, but very little substance.
I am not sure that any of the 10 republicans or 10 democrats would make an iota of difference if they were elected president. I wish someone who would offer a real change. Not a National Pastor, but someone who would be thoughtful in executing his office in a way that would be less offensive to the world and cause less offense to the world who sees us as a Christian Nation.
Thursday, January 10, 2008
Community
I have been trying to find a way to create community. (I assume from the books and conversations that I have experienced that I am not alone in that endeavor). I have studied the subject and tried to put on paper the necessary elements, guidelines, for starting - maintaining community.
Even when I had people willing to enter community covenant with me, the structure became a barrier to the community we were trying to create.
In our new neighborhood, we have neighbors that we have only known for 1 month. Last night we just dropped over to say hi. We stayed for 2 hours and had political debate, laughter (intense smiling for Catharine) and lots more. We hadn't seen them for 4 days and it was great to catch up with them.
We don't have any formal structure. We realized early on that we had shared values: 1) expanding the kingdom in our neighborhood 2) openess and being real 3) desire for community
But the biggest reason we are finding it easy is that we enjoy being with them. That creates an environment where we will seek to live life together and we have the chips we need to confront each other.
I am really excited about this huge opportunity, but I have no idea how to help you find it.
Even when I had people willing to enter community covenant with me, the structure became a barrier to the community we were trying to create.
In our new neighborhood, we have neighbors that we have only known for 1 month. Last night we just dropped over to say hi. We stayed for 2 hours and had political debate, laughter (intense smiling for Catharine) and lots more. We hadn't seen them for 4 days and it was great to catch up with them.
We don't have any formal structure. We realized early on that we had shared values: 1) expanding the kingdom in our neighborhood 2) openess and being real 3) desire for community
But the biggest reason we are finding it easy is that we enjoy being with them. That creates an environment where we will seek to live life together and we have the chips we need to confront each other.
I am really excited about this huge opportunity, but I have no idea how to help you find it.
Tuesday, January 08, 2008
Changing Church
Over the last 18 months I have gone through a long journey. In June of 2006, I left Crossroads Church and left behind the title of pastor. I began a long journey of re-examining my views of what church is, what it should be, and what that means for me. The long journey I began has not ended and I am sure at some point in the future I will look back and realize that right now I am only a few steps into the journey.
The journey has included being a church attender/member again for the first time in 10 years. Part of that experiment was awesome, but most of it left me feeling despair and brought me to a decision to leave church completely.
Many of the books that I have read and the people I interact with have a view that seem to me to have lost any hope that the form of the church in United States can be redeemed in any way. So they advocate scrapping the whole thing and creating a completely new thing. I am excited for those who are experiencing church in a new form that is alive and dynamic.
I have recently been given hope that church can be redeemed. There is a part of me that would rather spend all of my time with non-religious people {for me I can then be the one who decides the form and format and encourage unchurched people to adapt my preferences for form}. Having hope for the church means that not only do I have to set aside my preferences for music style and teaching style, but I will be loving and living with people whose ideas and concepts of community seem silly to me.
I believe that my love for my neighbor who doesn't believe in God can be reproduced in a love for my very religious fellow church attender. With one I may lovingly cover his obscene language and drunkness and with one I may lovingly cover her religious practices that seem obscene to me.
If I find unsurpassable worth in my neighbor then I will sacrifice at great cost to myself to give them the love and value that God sees in them whether they are pagan or religious.
The journey has included being a church attender/member again for the first time in 10 years. Part of that experiment was awesome, but most of it left me feeling despair and brought me to a decision to leave church completely.
Many of the books that I have read and the people I interact with have a view that seem to me to have lost any hope that the form of the church in United States can be redeemed in any way. So they advocate scrapping the whole thing and creating a completely new thing. I am excited for those who are experiencing church in a new form that is alive and dynamic.
I have recently been given hope that church can be redeemed. There is a part of me that would rather spend all of my time with non-religious people {for me I can then be the one who decides the form and format and encourage unchurched people to adapt my preferences for form}. Having hope for the church means that not only do I have to set aside my preferences for music style and teaching style, but I will be loving and living with people whose ideas and concepts of community seem silly to me.
I believe that my love for my neighbor who doesn't believe in God can be reproduced in a love for my very religious fellow church attender. With one I may lovingly cover his obscene language and drunkness and with one I may lovingly cover her religious practices that seem obscene to me.
If I find unsurpassable worth in my neighbor then I will sacrifice at great cost to myself to give them the love and value that God sees in them whether they are pagan or religious.
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